7 Habits of Highly Successful Vehicle Shipping Companies

Subscribe February 05, 2015
Auto Transport | Car shipping process | Choosing an auto shipper

7 Habits of Highly Successful Vehicle Shipping Companies

What to look for in a quality auto shipping company

Vehicles are the some of the most valuable and precious possessions many of us will ever own. When it comes time to ship them, be sure to research vehicle shipment companies carefully to ensure the best, easiest, and safest ride for your ride.

1. An experienced auto transport team

A well-established company, like DAS who have been delivering vehicles since 1954, knows the business of regional, continental, and international auto transport. Inside and out. Coast to coast and without border.

They’ve mastered, if not invented, the industry’s best practices and systems. They have developed their own time-tested business systems from order-taking to fulfillment.

Long before you request a free custom quote, they’ve already dealt with all the intricacies and complications of getting any car where it needs to go.

2. Expertise in people and processes

Let’s consider an analogy – the family vacation. If you’ve ever planned a road trip, and hooked a pop-up camper to a hitch on your SUV, you know that there are layers of responsibility and work to do here.

You have to corral the kids, the cousins, and whoever else will be joining you, coordinating among their schedules. You must arrange for fuel and food stops. Call the insurance and make sure it covers the pop-up trailer and any added drivers. Line up accommodations at your destination. You have to know how to load everybody in the passenger compartment to minimize distress. And, of course, you have to know how to hitch and unhitch your trailer. Maybe you’ve heard the phrase, “I’ve got a hitch in my get-along.”

That’s why, when it comes to moving anything that’s beyond this family vacation scenario, you hire professionals. They’ve been in practice long enough to work out all the kinks. They know how to effectively, safely, and securely load and offload all types of vehicles onto their haulers, according to a schedule that minimizes handling.

Long-time auto transport companies know all the players in the field and have engineered professional, supportive networks of certified partner facilities and terminals. That means they have strong working relationships with their drivers and all the professionals who handle vehicles.

3. Specialized equipment and know-how

Depending on what kind of vehicle you need to ship, it may not matter to you that your auto transporter offers low-boys, goose-neck trailers, and flat beds, among many other configurations. Or that their drivers are highly trained, certified professionals with years of experience in loading all manner of freight, not just passenger vehicles.

But, if you’re like us, you realize all knowledge is worthwhile and transferrable.

4. Knowledgeable and friendly customer service

Speaking of knowledge, you want to work with a qualified support staff. That’s a two-fold determination – firstly, they must have your best interests in mind and secondly, they must know what they’re talking about. One or the other is not enough.

The best way to check this for yourself, as you are researching auto transport providers, is to ask questions. You can submit questions via most sites’ Contact Us pages, by email, or over the phone. Most companies offer a toll-free number if you feel more comfortable speaking with a live person.

If they have a blog, you can also browse their blog posts to get familiar with the framework of consumer vehicle shipping and learn what all is involved. Questions specific to your situation may be best addressed on an individual case basis. If they are unable to answer in a timely, satisfactory manner, your research may not be over.

5. Insurance and protection services

Be sure to ask your prospective auto transport partners what kind of insurance they offer. For instance, DAS provides industry-leading coverage – up to $50,000 worth of physical damage insurance which serves as customer’s primary coverage. What’s more, it’s all handled by their licensed in-house vehicle protection team. In the unlikely event that any damages occur in transit, customers only have one point of contact to manage their claim.

6. Vehicle tracking

Just like any other shipping and freight company, auto transporters can offer nationwide vehicle tracking services via satellite and the GPS transponders installed in their fleet. If you want, you can take a virtual road trip from the comfort of your own device and count the miles as your vehicle nears the next stop in its journey.

7. Other premium services

Depending on your situation, you may be interested in exploring options, like:

We’re here to help you with your vehicle shipping needs.

If we can answer any more questions that you may have, please feel free to reach out to our friendly and knowledgeable customer support representatives at 888-817-6203. Or, you can email us from our Contact page.

• Door-to-door pick-up and delivery so you don’t have to drop your car off anywhere or go out of your way to retrieve it.
• Expedited shipping so that your vehicle gets where it’s going sooner.
• Guaranteed shipping to ensure it arrives at exactly the right time – when you need it.
• Top-loading of your vehicle means that it rides on the upper-level so there are no cars above it, and no potential for fluid leaks or falling debris.
• Enclosed shipping protects your car from the elements, like wind and UV-light, while in transit.

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